In the fall, a local farm donated ten hatching eggs for the children, and the school used an incubator (the hard way to begin the first time) and we candled eggs and waitd for some to hatch. Only one hatched, so the teacher bought a blue cochin at the feed store to be its friend growing up.
The young chicks are now over three months old, and are ready to move into the freshly built coop. Having seen the little ones throughout their life, the children are anxious to collect eggs.
In order to see the project all the way through, my friend Mai donated the Rhode Island Red you see above. Wyatt has selected a Phoenix hen to go along with her to the school as his donation to the project, one who likes to hatch babies.
So as the last touches are going on the coop this weekend, the Rhode Island will remain at our little farm for a couple of days. Early in the coming week, Bailey and Wyatt will help me take the birds to the class and get everyone settled in together. What an exciting time! In a world where nutrition has taken a back seat to convenience and cost, it is a pleasure to be a part of such a special project where youth learn to grow their own food and prepare it healthfully.
When this little Rhode Island Red came home, Wyatt was sad to sit her by herself, though he knows that is the proper way to do things when you raise a lying and meat flock. So after chores, he sat with her a while. "Everyone needs a friend, Mama. Especially when you go to a new place."
Okay, maybe there is hope for this workd after all...
Such insight from a young child- especially when he raises animals for food. If only adults could also truly understand the deep, abiding need we all have for a true friend! A fabulous way to " pay it forward" and learn to be part of a community!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Grandma. If the children remember that friendship and the good begins with them, and they know how to raise and prepare healthy food, maybe we are heading in the right direction. Hope they will keep us all paying it forward!
ReplyDelete